Get Prepared
Team Documents
Race Day Guide
Your team will receive printed copies of the Race Day Guide at Packet Pickup.
Rule Book
This is the mother lode. From the essential to the obscure, the Rule Book contains everything you need to know about the Market to Market Relay. All teams are to download a copy for their team vehicle.
Race Brief
This is your at-a-glance overview of the most important information in preparing for race day. Of course, the Race Guide and Rule Book reign supreme, but this is a great primer for all teammates to look over race week.
Packet Pickup
Your team’s packet will be available at the location you request when you register online. Only the captain or one team representative needs to attend packet pickup. If you can’t make it to advanced packet pick-up, be sure to add extra arrival time to pickup your packet on race day.
Advanced Pickup
Friday of Race Week
Des Moines | 11 AM – 6 PM
Animal Rescue League of Iowa
5452 N.E. 22nd Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
Jefferson | 4 PM – 8 PM
Greene County Courthouse | Town Square
114 North Chestnut Street
Jefferson, IA 50129
Race Day Pickup
See you in 2022! – May 14, 2022
Jefferson | Start Line | 5 AM – 9:30 AM
Greene County Courthouse | Town Square
114 North Chestnut Street
Jefferson, IA 50129
Relay Training Plans
Pick the plan best for you, and share with your teammates!
Contests
Best Team Costume Contest
The key to victory is wearing your costume all day long. The more elaborate and ridiculous the better! You must get your team photo taken at the start line to enter. See the race guide for full rules.
Best Decorated Vehicle
To win, you’ll want your vehicle to stand out in a crowd. Pro tip: Theme your vehicle with your costumes for an unstoppable combination! NEW FOR 2019: A random volunteer group will get to pick the winners! Remember to upload a picture of your vehicle to Instagram using the #m2mrelaybestvan hashtag.
Best Team Name
It’s up to your peers. The wackier and more creative, the better!
Contest voting is done via the rules outlined in the Race Day Guide. The team with the most votes wins. Winners get a prize pack and an automatic invitation into next year’s race.
FAQs
1. How it Works
The Market to Market® Relay Iowa is a team running relay from Jefferson to Des Moines, covering 75 miles over 17 stages on a scenic and varied course. Join 6, 7, or 8 of your closest pals, hop in a van, run, rest and repeat. The course follows the Raccoon River Valley Trail System, paved streets, and gravel back roads through a diverse and scenic slice of west central Iowa. Combine the running with outrageous costumes, memorable van rides, and a lively Post-Race Shindig & Expo in downtown Des Moines and it all adds up to 1 unforgettable day.
2. Team Size
Choose to run with a 6, 7 or 8-person team.
3. Distance
Each runner completes 2-3 legs of varying difficulty. Most legs range from 3 to 6 miles, so most runners average between 9 to 15 total miles for the day. You got this!
4. Vehicles
All teams are allowed 1 vehicle per team. Most teams go with a van, mini-van or SUV. Get creative and win the Best Decorated Vehicle contest!
5. Captains
Team captains are superheroes in disguise! Captains register, assemble and manage their team, and make sure everyone gets all the essential race details. Be one!
6. Already Registered?
Teammate? How Do I Join A Team? If your team captain has already started a team. The easiest way to join a team is to go to the My Team page and select Join A Team and look for your team. Once you find your team you will need to join. Note: You will need to register for a RunSignUp account.
Captain? How Do I Invite A Teammate? Our Roster Tool is on the registration platform of a third party site called RunSignUp. There are several ways to get a team to join here are a few.
- Send an email to a teammate directly to your team page using RunSignUp. How to Guide
- Text your teammate with your team name and have them go to the My Team page and click on Join A Team then select your team to join.
Captain? How Do I Manage My Team Our Roster Tool is on the registration platform of a third party site called RunSignUp. There are several ways to navigate to RunSignUp and manage your team.
- Sign into your profile at RunSignUp.com/Profile. Then make sure you have the correct person selected.
- Under “Upcoming Events” find your event and select “Manage Registration” next to the gear icon.
- Depending on what you would like to view or edit, here is a RunSignUp “How to Manage Your Team” help article to help you navigate to your team details and view your team roster.
7. Can My Team Defer To Next Year?
Yes! As outlined in the race policies, your team can defer to next year’s race.
How a captain can defer their team to next year
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- Captains will sign into their profile at RunSignUp.com/Profile. Then make sure you have the correct person selected.
- Select the “Upcoming Events” tab > Select your event > Select “Manage Registration” > Select “Defer Registration”.
- Complete the “Defer Registration” process. Once completed, your deferred registration will now appear under “My Deferrals”. We will be in touch with you next year on how to “claim” your deferred registration once the new race opens up.
8. Can My Team Transfer To the Virtual Event?
Yes! As outlined in race policies, your team can transfer to this year’s virtual event.
How a captain can transfer their team to this year’s virtual relay
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- Virtual Relay information is coming soon
9. Need More Info?
We’ve got you covered. All the race info you could ever want is available in the Team Documents.
Travel Info
Where to Stay | Jefferson, Iowa
Stay Friday night at the start line town of Jefferson, Iowa. This charming village in central Iowa has a good selection of restaurants and places to stay. You won’t regret the decision to stay the night in Jefferson. Maximize your sleep and avoid the worry of making it to the start line on time. The town is looking forward to hosting you and your teammates.
Jefferson Hotels
Super 8 Jefferson | 515-386-2464
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites | 515-386-3535
Redwood Motel | 515-386-3116
Near Jefferson Hotels
The Port on Lake Panorama | 641-755-4240 | 22 Miles from Start Line
Lake Panorama National Inn & Townhomes | 800-879-1917 | 22 Miles from Start Line
Farmhouse Life Cabin | 515-229-6988 | 16 Miles from Start Line
Vehicle Info
There are a limited number of vans available for rent in the Omaha and Lincoln area. We recommend securing your vehicle as soon as possible. Do not assume that a rental will be available. Consider all options when looking for a team vehicle including renting, borrowing, purchasing or searching out of state. Teams with 7 total runners will have the easiest time securing a team vehicle.
Vehicle Rules
- Regular teams may only have one vehicle
- Teams with a faster than 20 minute average 5k time will qualify for 2 vehicles
- Team vehicles must be less than seven feet in width and less than 20 feet in length
- Large vans, mini-vans and SUV’s are allowed
- No RVs, mini-buses, trailers or limos are allowed
- All passengers must have access to a safety belt
Renting in Des Moines
Avis Vehicle Rental
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5623
Advantage Rent A Car
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5840
Budget Vehicle Rental
1901 Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA
(515) 287-6014
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5665
Gabus Ford
4545 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 270-0707
Hertz Vehicle Rental
4224 Merle Hay Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 270-3828
National Vehicle Rental
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5353
Thrifty Vehicle Rental
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(800) 847-4389